Serbian lawyer, activist Srdja Popovic dies at 75

Associated Press

October 29, 2013 - 6:40 AM

BELGRADE, Serbia — Srdja Popovic, a prominent Serbian lawyer and advocate of human rights and democracy during both the communist era and the rule of late strongman Slobodan Milosevic, has died. He was 75.

The Serbian state television says Popovic died on Tuesday in Belgrade. No cause of death was given.

Popovic won prominence in 1970s' when he defended well-known dissidents, artists and critics of the communist regime in former Yugoslavia.

When Yugoslavia broke up in 1990s', Popovic spoke openly against the autocratic and warmongering policies of Milosevic. He helped set up a liberal weekly, Vreme, by hiring journalists fired by Milosevic's regime for opposing the war.

Most recently, Popovic represented the family of Zoran Djindjic, the slain former Serbian premier.